Newcastle 1 Benfica 1 – (Aggregate 2-4) – Full Match Report

1-1 in this game does not tell the real story of this game, as Newcastle went ahead with another headed goal from Papiss Cisse after 71 minutes, and almost had Benfica on the ropes, as the lads went for the all important second goal, and then a couple of minutes into stoppage time as Newcastle pressed forward, the Portuguese side had a quick breakaway that caught Newcastle short at the back and and they scored to kill the game.

One down and one to go Cisse the scorer and Ben Arfa after Newcastle’s goal
And to be honest a breakaway goal was always on the cards throughout the game for Benfica – but near the end of the game Newcastle simply had to risk everything to go for glory – and the lads just missed out – after a magnificent and courageous performance from the Newcastle players.

And credit has to go to Alan Pardew and the Newcastle coaches too, as they had the perfect game plan, and it was very nearly executed to perfection.

Here’s how we saw the game as it happened – and I aged another couple of years.

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On three minutes Tim Krul had to block a shot from Lima as Benfica started the game quickly, and then after five minutes Tim Krul in the Newcastle goal had to claw away a left wing cross that was going in just under the cross-bar.

So two good save from Tim Krul in the first five minutes of the game.

Then on 13 minutes a through ball found Papiss Cisse free in the inside left position, but he couldn’t control the ball and it went out for a goal kick. Newcastle were finding it a bit difficult to get going, and it was obvious their number one purpose was to keep the game very tight at the back.

On 28 minutes Krul went for a ball on the right hand side of the penalty box, but he had to release the ball when he went outside the box, and Lima put the ball inside to Gaitan who took a shot at goal.

But it was Massadio Haidara reading the situation brilliantly who got back to kick the ball away as it was going in – that was a let-off for Newcastle.

Then on 34 minutes as Newcastle were coming more into the game, a good move found Yohan Cabaye free on the right wing, but the Frenchman ballooned his cross behind for a goal kick.

And then a breakaway from Benfica started when they dispossessed Cabaye in midfield, and 20 year-old Salvio headed just wide of Tim Krul’s left hand post – a close call for the Magpies.

On 42 minutes Sissoko made one of his powerhouse runs down the left wing, and brought the ball inside to Bigirimana, but the 19 year-old shot tamely and straight at the goalkeeper.

Gael looked a bit lost on the right wing – and he was lacking experience for such an important game.

As Newcastle were pressing as the half came to an end, a left wing cross saw Cisse put the ball in the back of the night – but he was a yard offside.

So the half time whistle came with the score 0-0 with Benfica being the slightly better side in that first half – but Newcastle would have settled for 0-0 at the break before the game – and Newcastle were still right in this game.

At the start of the second half Alan Pardew brought on the experienced Shola Ameobi for Gael Bigirimana.

On 50 minutes a nice move between Simpson and Ameobi saw Shola beat his man on the bye-line and get a corner – which came to nothing.

And then six minutes later another quick move by Benfica had Gaitan in the penalty area, and he pulled the ball back to Lima, who then hit his shot over the bar – Benfica were dangerous on the break.

On 62 minutes an almighty roar from the Geordie crowd saw the introduction of Ben Arfa for Vurnon Anita, who had put in a good shift for the Magpies, and it was clear Alan Pardew and the Newcastle team were going for goals, but Benfica were still dangerous.

Three minutes later a cross come shot by Ben Arfa was headed for a corner, and then on 66 minutes Papiss Cisse had the ball int the net again as a cross from Yohan Cabaye was headed onto Cisse who headed it into the net – but he was a yard offside.

Cisse argued with the officials and it got him a yellow card, and then Sylvain Marveaux replaced Massadio Haidara as Newcastle went all out for a goal – and all three attacking substitutions had been made.

And then Newcastle got the goal they wanted – as the ball was played down the right wing and Shola Ameobi crossed the ball from the bye-line and Papiss Cisse was there to head home from a few yards out – as the Newcastle crowd went absolutely crazy.

Newcastle started to pile forward, and Ben Arfa was creating chances for the Newcastle forwards, and on 78 minutes Shola had a chance just outside the penalty area, but he slipped just as he was shooting, and the goalkeeper collected the ball easily.

The game was end to end as Newcastle pushed for a second goal which would see them through, adn newcastle were swarming forward and seemed to have Benfica rattled a few times, and it was not unlike the last 20 minutes against Fulham last Sunday.

And then on 89 minute Ben Arfa had a decent chance but he blazed the ball over the bar from a good position.

It would be four minutes added for stoppage time, and Newcastle got a promising free kick just outside the penalty area, and Yohan Cabaye took it and the ball deflected off the wall, but the goalkeeper saved low to his right.

But then would you believe it – Benfica broke away and caught Newcastle short at the back – and it was Salvio who scored rather easily – and Newcastle had to score three goals in the final two minutes.

We didn’t do it.

But this was a well planned courageous performance from a Newcastle team that just never gives up, and we’re going to be a team to be reckoned with next season.

94 responses so far ↓

the thing i really want to happen next season is for pardew to stop putting weaker teams out for the FA cup games because their is no excuse for not starting the startard team as it is weekend they played not mid week and as for risk to injuries well any football match has that risk so fa cup matches are no differant.

Cabaye had a very poor game. I honestly prefer Marveaux in that position. We are a few players short from having a decent team. 2 strikers, 2 centre backs and 1 midfielder should be enough in the summer.

The thing that annoys me is that we have seen what we can do when we attack teams like Benfica & Man U (away) but we very rarely do it. Why we can’t punish teams like Reading at home is beyond me. Never under another manager have we scored so few goals in games and I do think Pardew is the main problem because we have the players to do it.

rather play against top quality premier league teams than those third rated teams you guys played in Europe benfica is the only good club you played against and you lost that to in stadium of light in Portugal though

We fought the fight: we gave 100%+ – it just wasnt enough on the night. We should feel NO shame. We should be proud of our team and look forward to Sunday.

If we play 75% as well against the unwashed, as we did tonight, it could be their most embarrassing defeat of the last 15 years. Cant wait to watch it happen – and yes, I’ll settle for a 1-0 and 3 points lol

What some of you don’t realise is the only reason Gutierrez looks good at LB is because we have been pressurising the other teams hard in the last couple of games and he has had next to no defending to do. Put him up against a team with a decent right winger and it would be a disaster. He played there for Argentina and was abysmal.

Strangely not gutted as is so often the case, we are right up there with the likes of Benfica, on a steep upwards curve, Ben Arfa is back, and we have the home derby on Sunday to already look forward to.

Don’t expect a reasoned response from catchy if you ask him what he would change or who he would want to replace Pardew as he reserve’s the right to slate everything and everyone without having to give a reasoned, intelligent response

Good effort from Newcastle players, but too few chances of goal.
Congratulations to all Newcastle fans for the support to your team and good luck to the Premiership.
Hope that Newcastle can achieve a better place.
Cheers from Lisbon!

catchy i don’t understand football??????????
well yes i do but i also understand how to enjoy football!
i enjoy watching my team playing which you don’t!
and my most important question to you is why you are never on when we win and always negative before games!!
you are not a fan simple as that!
you say last season we were shit!!
we finished 5th you c**t
and it was only our second season back in the prem you c**t
and you also said today we’ve got our best squad for ages and i agree!! but i don’t agree “regardless of injuries”!!
please tell me when we’ve had the opportunity to field the best team and subs just 1 time this season!!???????

go on catchy lets see you answer all of that without looking like a negative fantasist you c**t!!!!????

Just back from the match and not had time to read all the comments but I hope there’s no willo or simmo bashing going on tonight.
We played excellent against a top European team and were so unlucky AGAIN.
Hats off to all the players. Do that on Sunday and well win win 5-0!!!

If the mackem warrior is agreeing to catchys opinions what does that say about catchy?

Also mackem warrior, your only on here to get a buzz from your made up bull. A buzz which you cant get watching sunderland or talking about them. In fact you get more of a buzz talking about nufc than sunderland and you also seem to know alot about the toon. Im sorry that we are just alot more of an interesting club than that small club in sunderland.

HAHAHAHHAHAHA @Cockam cattermole like tiote? johnson like ben arfa? sessesh*t like sissoko…The best 1 yet brown like saylor or oshea like mbiwa please man your making yourself look like a right delusional inbred ****…Go and suck on your daddys c*ck again

mackem warrior what the f1ck you talking about wore team is way better then yours and always will be and have you ever seen a mackem in milan no and u never will the diffrence between our team and yours is we have a sh1t manager but have a great team what did oneil by with the millions he spent ask yourself that your idiot

Understand one thing mate, I’m no Pardew lover, but I’m also intelligent enough to understand that spouting off every day on a bloody blog isn’t going to change anything other than drive me to despair.

You constantly call for Pardew’s head as if you actually think that Ashley’s going to hear you and change the manager (funny how you never put up a realistic replacement though).

99% of us would replace him IF we could find the right man but we are not the owners of the club and we understand that sitting in our arm chairs calling for his head and slagging him and the players off will change absolutely nothing

and transfer where building a team here and last season with the team we had pardew got us 5th!
thats including ober,simmo n willo we’ve eventually upgraded them (well apart from ober) but arfa if he was fit would have been there anyways we were never set for this seasons set up!
and that lies at the summer window full stop!
we could all see the annoyance from pardew agree transfer??
now pardew has actually got close to the team he wants to build and play, you want him gone when by bad luck n i mean bad luck has ravenged his opportunity to play his best team just ONCE!!!
that to me is not just unfair but madness!!

yes the team played well well second half anyway i dont blame the players i blame pardrew end of the day its my view you dont like it then dont read it and yes ive only been coming on here to view i dont always comment as most people on here r pardrew lovers and r happy just for us to manage every season yes last season we finished 5th but that was down to the players not pardrew but just wait till next season does not matter who we bring in pardrew does not no what to do with them

The bond with the player and manager is broken obviously and the new manager must gain the trust of all his players again.

The new manager might not play our favourite players and stick to the less prefered types like Willo, Perch etc.

The new manger might also play players out of position constantly and upset the balance of the team.

The new manager must know what it means to be a Newcastle manager, know the Premier league and be able to handle all the pressure it brings.

I am confident Pardew can bring us success. We have slowly been assembling an amazing team with just a few final adjustments in the summer. Soon we will be scaring the top 4 with our powerful young team staking our claim amongst the big boys and rubbing shoulders with them season after season.

catchy i absolutly loved last season and i mean loved it was brilliant and any one who didn’t simply doesn’t support nufc imo
it was wat football is about!
and totally exciting and to think THAT WAS OUR SECOND SEASON IN THE PREM!!
u expected us to play like barca!!
you want us to play like swansea but hey there only 5 points ahead of us after a terrible terrible season through INJURY!!
he’s building his own team right now next season you can judge not now!
and for you to say last season was shit just shows wat type of c**t you are!!
soz for using it again other posters!

If we played good football and lose ill take it. If we play shitty and win ill take it. But when we play shitty over and over again and lose, my patience is gone. Pardew will never have this team play to there full potential, surely you must agree with that? Last season and 5th place was GREAT, but we did not play good football.

In honor of two dedicated Newcastle fans, who lost their lives supporting Newcastle United, when their passenger jet was shot down over Ukraine on Thursday July 17th, 2014 by rebels, as they were traveling to support the team in New Zealand.

We will never forget them.

Fantasy League

Mark Harding has again set up the Fantasy League for our readers for this season.

The new code is 3641-1656 and people can set up the league here:

http://fantasy.premierleague.com

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Health Update - 4 Feb, 2015

I had another battery of medical tests early last week, and the results show my PSA count as undetectable, which means the prostate cancer is still under control, and there is no trace of cancer in the body.

I'm very pleased about that!

Ed Harrison

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What Is A Football Club?

“What is a club in any case?"

“Not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it.

It’s not the television contracts, get-out clauses, marketing departments or executive boxes."

“It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city."

“It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.”